Monday, June 19, 2017

Is It Possible to Have a Godly Marketing Strategy for My Book?

It’s not wrong to want to be
successful with our writing. Whether we’re writing devotions, Bible studies,
fiction, or poetry, we want our words to reach others on a level that other
writers can’t. Deep within us is a hunger to be recognized. But we also want to
be recognized as His vessel, and humbleness comes with the territory. We should
always desire to keep our followers’ focus on Him, not us. Maintaining a godly
marketing strategy is a dichotomy we need to navigate.

Social media is an effective
tool to reach so many people. We use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest
to post selfies, daily moments, and links to our books. We effectively share
moments of our lives which turn into marketing opportunities. But when is it
too much? As Christian writers, our focus should be on bringing others into
God’s Kingdom. How can we do that through book sales and marketing campaigns?

“Work with enthusiasm, as though
you were working for the LORD rather than for people.” Ephesians 6:7 NLT.

Here’s a short checklist of
tasks to consider:

Be joyous with your posts.
Allow others to see and read that you love God more than you love writing.

Pray without ceasing. Ask God
to show you how to best use your media for His glory. He’ll open those doors
and opportunities for you.

Add God to your posts. Use
Bible verses or stories of His hand in your daily life.

Don’t be a martyr. You have a
group of friends you’re open and honest with. Unless it relates to your brand
or project, don’t share intimate details of your spiritual struggles on your
professional pages. Some will consider you a whiner, and trolls may try to push
your buttons.

Don’t be selfish. Selfies and
“me” posts are great peeks into your life and allow your followers to feel
connected, but staying humble is a greater draw. Include others, share links
from friends, and focus more on what’s around you.

Don’t ignore yourself. I
know, this sounds like it’s in contrast to not being selfish. But it’s not.
Here’s why: God gave you the creative talent burning inside you. He gave it to
you to share with others. And He gave us social medial to share it on. It’s
okay to post what you have available and what you’re working on. Just find that
balance.

When we shift focus from “my
brand” to “His Marketing” He honors us with His blessings. Anything that comes
after Him is just icing on the cake.

3 comments:

Molly, have you been reading my journal? :) This is new territory for me having just released my first book in May. I'm struggling to find the balance in marketing. I recently read that many Christians often feel like if they "give their book to God", they can sit back and watch books fly off the shelves. I do believe in giving the book to God and trusting Him for the ultimate results. Without Him, my book wouldn't exist, but I also believe we have a responsibility to do the work - not only in writing what He has called us to write, but also in sharing the work with others. I like Tim Grahl's definition of marketing: "Creating long-lasting connections with people and constantly try to add value to their lives." This is my heart's desire. Thank you, Molly! I'm bookmarking this post.

I recently attended a Christian writing conference and I left feeling the need to work on my online presence, but I have really struggled with this process. Thank you for this article. Just the message I needed. Blessings.

Great article Molly. I work hard at my online presence. My ultimate goal is to glorify God in all I do and say. It is nice to know that I am heading in the right direction. Your words gave me the confidence and affirmation. Thank you.